ILOILO City – Western Visayas will host the Central Philippines Tourism Expo (CPTEx) 2023, one of the biggest tourism expos in the country and a pet project of Tourism secretary Christina Frasco.
The three-day event from June 16 to 18 at the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) will gather and showcase tourism products and services from 15 regions.
It is part of the recovery efforts for the tourism industry that falls under three of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) seven-point agenda: Equalization of Tourism, Product Development and Promotion, Maximization of Domestic Tourism, and Strengthening Tourism Governance through Close Collaboration with Local Government Units (LGUs) and Stakeholders.
“This is a first for Western Visayas, and for the DOT the goal is to maximize the promotion and diversification of tourism products,” said DOT-6 director Crisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez.
The CPTEx is participated by six clustered regions in the central part of the country namely, CALABARZON (Region 4A), MIMAROPA (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), and Eastern Visayas (Region 8).
The Iloilo Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) Alliance, headed by its president, Joseph del Rosario, is the co-organizer of the event while Iloilo City is the co-host.
Rodriguez said they are expecting exhibitors from 15 regions to include, among others, various LGUs, food, restaurants, and accommodation establishments.
For the event, the regional director said they are expecting over a thousand buyers and sellers, and they have also invited the academe especially the local schools to participate.
The tourism expo is expected to impact the tourism industry of the region especially that it has positioned itself as a MICE destination in the country. Region 6 will showcase its tourism products which include eco-tourism, sand and beaches, food, and culture and heritage, among others.
One of the highlights of the event are DOT’s 50th anniversary celebration and the regional launch of one of DOT’s flagship program, “Bisita, Be My Guest”, on Sunday, June 18.
The tourism expo will also showcase the regional festivals/performances of six clustered regions such as Niyogyugan Festival of Quezon province, Balayong Festival of Puerto Princesa City, Kalutang Festival of Marinduque, Kaogma Festival of Bicol, Arnis of Cebu, Bura-buron Festival of Leyte, and SAMLEYAW Dance Company of Region 8.
Region 6 as a host region, on the other hand, will showcase its three major festivals: Ati-Atihan of Aklan, Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo and MassKara Festival of Bacolod City.
“There will be product display, free tasting of delicacies that the regions will be bringing with them. We will have fun as each region will showcase their culture and heritage,” said Rodriguez./PN
